PORTOBELLO AQUARIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23118, 18 February 1937, Page 12

PORTOBELLO AQUARIUM

MEETING OF BOARD A meeting of the Portobello Marine Biological Board was held at the Museum on Friday last, Mr C. A. Wilson occupying the chair. The honorary secretary reported that the marine aquarium had been fairly well patronised, despite the inclement weather and travel restrictions. During December and January 381 adults and 149 children had visited the aquarium and had paid, in all, £ll 7s 3d for admission. During Mr Adam's absence on annual leave, Mr Stuart Thomson had taken charge, and his talks to visitors had proved popular. It was stated that fish had lately been in good supply, and a number of rare specimens had been added. Unfortunately, there was only a limited accommodation for specimens, and the seven glass-sided aquarium tanks were carrying their full capacity, but, by using a series of jars and boxes,’small, interesting sea life could also be shown. Amongst the interesting fish recently secured were two marble fish, or granite trout, which, with the large specimen already on hand, makes three of these fairly rare fish. They are beautifully coloured and show an unusual tameness. About 12 months ago a bearded rockling was secured, the first specimen to be recorded for nearly 50 years. This specimen died, but on the same morning another was taken in one of the fish traps. This fish is seaweed brown in colour. The head is carried low. and with the tentacles on the lips it rather resembles a catfish. It is secretive and prefers to lurk amongst the weeds at the bottom of the tank. The weed fish has similar habits, but is different in appearance, being well provided with large fins, which are brown and broken up with glass-clear patches, making it almost invisible when sheltering amongst seaweeds. The weed fish has intelligent-looking eyes. The fish traps have also been responsible for securing a good number of seahorses, and one of those gave birth to a large number of young. Using a light at night, large numbers of garfish were taken, as well as a variety of sealife. A fish of unusual appearance was taken at the light. The back was steel blue, and it was silvery below the tail fin. silvery at the base, the dorsal and back fins white, and the ventrals black. The caudal fins were developed to an extraordinary size, and were blueblack in colour. This fish is identified as the butterfly fish —the young of the large-scaled tunny. The blind eel or hagfisb which has been held for six years has died, but another specimen is in the aquarium. The board passed a motion thanking Mr Stuart Thomson for his help. The secretary was instructed to try to secure a renewal of the Government grant by which the station is maintained.